“I embarked on a journey from Kingston to Atlanta, driven by a passion for community development. My life’s narrative is woven with threads of commitment, leadership, and a relentless pursuit of sustainable growth. Each project, from the Cascade Road Multiuse Trail to citywide initiatives, is a testament to the transformative power of community engagement. In every step, I’ve seen the impact we can make when we unite for a common purpose—building a legacy of vibrant, resilient, and connected communities.” – David Lloyd Davis
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Toronto, Canada, David Lloyd Davis has spent the past three decades transforming the urban landscape of Atlanta through community-centered leadership. His journey began as an event guide for the 1996 Olympics—an experience that sparked a lifetime commitment to inclusive and sustainable place-making.
As Executive Director of the Cascade Springs Nature Conservancy since 2019, David has led the organization through a powerful revival. Under his leadership, CSNC has activated key conservation initiatives, secured critical funding, and deepened partnerships across sectors. His signature endeavor is the Atlanta Nature Center, a visionary project to build a Living Building–certified nature center at the Cascade Springs Nature Preserve. Inspired by the legacy of Mayor Maynard Jackson—Atlanta’s first African American mayor—David envisions the Nature Center as a model of civic, municipal, and educational collaboration, rooted in environmental justice and community resilience.
This effort includes a bold campaign to recognize the Utoy Creek Watershed as “America’s Largest Urban Forest,” advancing legislative and grassroots support to protect this irreplaceable natural asset. In collaboration with Jason F. McLennan (founder of the Living Building Challenge), Georgia Tech , the City of Atlanta, and the local community, David is building the infrastructure necessary to sustain human, social, environmental, and economic well-being for future generations.
David serves as Partner-in-Residence (2025-26) with the Georgia Tech Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education, contributing applied expertise to curricular innovation and community-engaged research. PIRs work with SCoRE as thought partners and collaborators, providing input on SCoRE strategies and initiatives, learning together with us about new and evolving policies, issues, and technologies, and identifying opportunities to partner on projects and seek funding to work together on projects of mutual interest.
David has also served as a lecturer with the Morehouse School of Medicine Center of Excellence on Climate and Environmental Health, where he helped equip emerging leaders with sustainability and health equity frameworks.
With a background that includes roles as Atlanta City Council’s Director of Community Development, spatial analytics consultant, and greenspace development and water resources planner, David brings a unique blend of strategic vision, technical expertise, and grounded community insight to every initiative.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from York University, a foundation that has grounded his innovative approach to equitable planning and ecological stewardship.